Roberts of Abbotswood, Benfleet, handed herself into police on April 16 and received four years for robbery and 12 months for possession of a knife, to run concurrently.

She previously admitted the offences at Basildon Crown Court on Friday, May 18.

Investigating officer Johnda Hughes, of Basildon CID, said: “While it’s not clear whether Roberts went to the store intent in carrying out robbery, she clearly didn’t like being challenged and threatened him with a knife.

“She didn’t expect the shopkeeper to defend his business and bravely fought back. I want to praise him for his assistance during the investigation."

Emma Haslett

Emma Haslett, 36, unemployed, of Highwood Lane, Loughton, pleaded guilty to nine burglaries, three frauds, one theft and one count of battery.

She was investigated for offences between February 13 and July 28 involving victims with disabilities and mental health issues, the oldest being 87 and youngest 65-years-old.

She would gain their trust before stealing cash, wallets and purses and even food. The defendant was spotted on CCTV using one victim's card three times in nine minutes and on one day burgled four properties in the same street.

She was jailed for 54 months after admitting 13 offences against Loughton’s elderly and most vulnerable people.

Michaela Brunning

The next on the list, Michaela Brunning, of Glenway Close, was involved in a long-standing dispute with one of her victims, Jade Payne, over a haircut.

Back on July 11, the two women bumped into each other by the Costcutter in King Georges Place around 10.20pm at night. Jade was known by the defendant after conducting hairdressing on Brunning which she complained about.

Ms Payne was out that evening with her friend Louise Georgia, who found themselves at the Costcutter and ran into Brunning who was purchasing two bottles of wine.

CCTV showed Ms Payne popping her head inside the store which caught the defendant's attention, who then picked up one of the wine bottles and charged towards the pair. There was a scuffle and when the Brunning and Ms Payne were pulled apart, the latter was seen clutching her stomach.

Angela Holland

(Image: Essex Police)

Angela Holland, 42, formerly of Burrs Road, Clacton, received four years, Amadu Gbla, 35, of Trafalgar Road, Clacton , received six years, Steven Wilson, 30, of no fixed address, received six-and-a-half years for aggravated burglary and taking a motor vehicle without consent

Between 4am and 6am on Friday, December 8 last year, Gbla and Wilson threw an object through the window of a property in Marine Parade East and threatened a man inside with weapons.

They demanded items including the victim's PIN number and while inside they struck the man in the head, hitting him with the handle of an axe.

Gbla and Wilson drove off in the man’s car, taking his electrical and audio equipment, cash and a wallet. The victim suffered cuts and bruises and called the police.

The pair were associates of Holland, who was known to the victim and was seen in the area of the property at around 1.30am that day.

Holland and Wilson were found guilty of both offences following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday, September 12.

Gbla was found guilty of taking a motor vehicle without consent following the trial but admitted the aggravated burglary on Wednesday, February 28.

Victoria Smith

(Image: Essex Police)

Victoria Smith, 29, formerly of Athol Close, Canvey , has been jailed for 54 months after tricking her family and friends into investing in fake foreign currency schemes.

Between January 2015 and November 2016, Smith used her position as a bank employee to convince victims, mostly from Canvey, that she could offer preferential rates on foreign currency.

She also claimed that investors could make profits by investing money in the exchange of sterling to foreign currency.

Smith created a Ponzi scheme where she used the cash from new investors to pay funds to old investors, keeping up the appearance that they were making profits.

However, she was also funding her own lifestyle, with a total £280,000 loss to her victims.

Smith handed herself on November 13, 2016, and police received 28 complaints -many of the victims were Smith’s friends and family.

She was jailed for 25 counts of fraud by false representation.

Kellie Tandy

(Image: Essex Police)

A woman who killed a pedestrian and drove through the wall of a pub in a collision in St Osyth was jailed for three years and six months.

Kellie Tandy was driving a red Volkswagen Toureg along Colchester Road at around 4.20pm on Thursday, May 11 last year where ahead of her two vehicles had stopped at the junction with Clacton Road.

Instead of slowing, Tandy carried on at speed, swerving to miss the other cars, hitting a pedestrian and becoming lodged in a pub wall.

The pedestrian, 76 year-old Ronald Ramsey, had been walking his dog when Tandy’s car hit him. He died at the scene.

At a sentencing hearing on Thursday, November 22 the court heard Mr Ramsey had told witnesses “tell my wife I love her” before losing consciousness.

Natasha Gardener

A woman was jailed for 30 months after assaulting a man in Colchester.

Natasha Gardener, 36, of Brooklands, Colchester, admitted GBH without intent and assault at Ipswich Crown Court on Tuesday, October 16.

Gardener, who was initially on trial for GBH with intent and assault, made the admission early into her trial. Judge Overbury, overseeing the case, guided the jury towards a decision on the lesser charge on October 16.

She was sentenced on Friday, December 14.

The victim, aged in his 40s, was found with a single stab wound to the stomach at an address on Hythe Hill on December 20, 2017. Another woman at the address, aged in her 20s, had also been assaulted, for which Gardener received a one month sentence to run concurrently.

After reviewing CCTV in the area, officers identified Gardener and arrested her.

Investigating officer, DC Steven King, said: “What happened on that night has left a lasting emotional impact on the two victims. Gardener’s violence was unprovoked and unwarranted and I’m glad that this has been reflected in a custodial sentence.”